Gambling is entertainment with a price tag — keep it that way

Tools built into every UK-licensed casino

Deposit limits. Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap before you play, not after a bad night. Lowering a limit takes effect immediately at every licensed site; raising one is deliberately slowed down, usually by 24 hours, so an impulse can't undo a good decision.

Time-outs. A short break — anywhere from a day to six weeks — during which the account locks itself. Useful when play has crept from "Saturday evening" into "every evening".

Reality checks. On-screen reminders showing how long you've been playing and what it's cost. They only work if you set them, and setting them takes about a minute.

Self-exclusion via GamStop. The serious tool. Register once at gamstop.co.uk — free, one form — and every gambling site licensed in Great Britain must block you for six months, one year or five years. It cannot be reversed early, which is exactly the point. All five casinos we compare are covered, because membership is a licence condition, not a courtesy.

Signs worth taking seriously

Chasing losses. Hiding play from people close to you. Gambling with money set aside for something else. Feeling restless or irritable when not playing. None of these means a crisis by itself — but each one is a reason to set a limit today and, if it keeps happening, to talk to someone below. The conversations are free and confidential, and nobody lectures you.